Christmas Eve in Buka Island PNG

Michael & I are spending our first Christmas away from home and family, but God has surrounded us with His love and friends here at the centre.  We shopped in town for bread (we got the last loaf), for homemade stuffing, bought a small chicken, and because of all the care packages we will even have homemade chocolate and pecan pie!  The amazing part is His Story!  Not the place we are, or the gifts we have, but the reason He came to earth!  For you and me, His abounding love for All.  

Share Christ love and Good News This season.

Merry Christmas and a Christ filled new year!

We Are Here at Buka Island

It has been a full year that we have been preparing to be here at Buka Island serving the Bible translators,

assisting in Bible translation.

We have visited 6 out of 8 Regional Centers

and are ready to get to work

What a thrill to be able to sit in the co-pilot seat during our travels.
It has been a amazing journey to be in the will of God!





Cheryl  arriving at Buka Island



I am in awe at the creation of the LORD!
This is the view from the Regional Center.  We are about 200 feet above sea level perched upon a cliff.



I sometimes ponder on all His creations.
This is my lovely wife Cheryl.  She certainly makes the flowers blush.



It's good to find reliable transportation on the Island.
I think the alternate fuel may be someones sence of humor.



The center offers many challenges. 
Solar collector for hot water, rain water for drink and shower.

Keep us in your prayers as we transition into our new positions





Impacting Those Around You

 Rain did not prevent us from starting our 5 week stay with the Baye family.  They had taken the time and built us a new home from materials from the jungle.  They live like 85% of the people live in Papua New Guinea...so that's how we lived for 5 weeks; no power, no running water and no screens.  Praise the Lord for all that He did provide!

This was the first moments that Cheryl and I came into the Village of Omuru.

They were excited to see us but unsure of what or who we were.

This is the last day...We were all loaded up.  We made so many friends and formed many lasting bonds

We showed the Jesus Film in Tok Pisin and there were two friends that came and accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior

This is our Wasfamili (Foster Family)

Waspapa Mey, Wasmama Gabol

Lessi, Venesa, Marian, Ellison and baby Emily

With rain every night there was plenty of water we had to walk through

The people of the Bolbul were friendly and so encouraging in our Tok Pisin studies

Another night of rain and we had to wait 2 hours before we could cross.

Thank God for the help of villagers

Tired, muddy and ready to get back to POC

Thank you all for your prayers and encouragement.

We are ready now for village living which will start this Friday October 5

We will be out of pocket for 5 weeks and will repost November 8

God's best to your all

3 Day Hike Encourages Relational Skills

Three days and plenty of rain made this a remarkable journey into the bush.

Sunday Service at Nobnob

What a mighty God we serve~!!!

Church at Nobnob was a treat here at POC this last Sunday.  We had an opportunity to meet the local people that live on the mountain.  This beautiful church, way atop Nobnob Mountain, was the setting for us students at POC to sing “Dispela De” [This is the Day] and for us men to introduce themselves, wives and their family in Tok Pisin.  Boy was I challenged J

We are learning so much here about the people, their culture and their history.  In Papua New Guinea today most people have outdoor kitchens where meals are prepared.   We are currently building an outdoor kitchen for me and Cheryl.  It is called a Haus Kuk.   I have built the structure using materials taken from the jungle and am now building our table with benches.  This Saturday and Sunday, Cheryl will be cooking all three meals over an open fire in the Haus Kuk.  The kitchen where we normally have our meals here at POC will be closed and off limits so there goes the use of a refrigerator.  The other challenge is to get the food we need from market.  Now normally going to market means going up to Publix and grabbing a roaster from the Deli, but here in the “Land of the Unexpected” Cheryl and I will be hiking down the Mountain…about 4 kilometers and catching a ride on a PMV…[Public Motor Vehicle]  and hitch a ride into Madang to shop…of course we have to come back the same way and hike back up the Mountain…about 2300 feet above Madang and the ocean.  The nice part is that in this culture the women carry all the groceries, firewood and babies, while the men walk with them with a bush knife and protect them.   I’ve promised to protect her and that she won’t have to worry about no baby….just kidding of course but we do have to carry the groceries up ourselves.

Boy I love an adventure.

Keep us in your prayers as we navigate these days in training to learn Tok Pisin

Pray for patience as we adjust to living in community

Pray for the health of the children [28] with 6 under the age of 1

Pray for the staff as they lead us into unfamiliar territory

Great Seeing Family

Wewak was a wonderful place to find ourselves first introduced to the People of Papua New Guinea.  The people are warm and friendly and Keith and Angie paved the way with their ability to talk to the locals.  It stirred in us a keen desire to learn to speak Tok Pison with the local. 

There are more photo's on the way... keep us in your prayers.